Jaguars Slip Past Rattlers 21-14 In Atlanta Football Classic

The 2012 Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic ended in dramatic fashion as many other AFC’s have in the past. The Southern University Jaguars scored 21 second-half points to rally past the Florida A&M Rattlers, 21-14, on Sept. 29 at the Georgia Dome.

Dray Joseph threw two second-half touchdown passes and Daniel Brown returned a fumble six yards for the winning margin in the Southern University victory.It was a passing battle from the beginning between Jaguars quarterback Joseph and Rattlers quarterback Damien Fleming. While Fleming completed 30-of-35 passes for 256 yards and touchdown passes of 7 and 51 yards to Travis Harvey, Joseph passed for 226 yards on 25-of-35 and one interception and touchdown connections to Sylvester Nzekwe and Lee Doss.

But it was a fumble recovery by Brown that proved to be the difference.

Midway through the fourth quarter and FAMU trying to move the ball from deep in its own territory, Fleming was hit, resulting in a fumble. SU’s Brown recovered it at the 6-yard line and scampered into the end zone for the score.

Fleming, however, refused to throw in the towel.

The 6-3, 180-point quarterback drove the Rattlers downfield to SU’s 3-yard line, but his fourth-down pass to Harvey fell incomplete in the waning seconds and Southern ran out the clock.

Joseph was named SU’s AFC Most Valuable Player. Defensive back Devan Roberts was named FAMU’s Bank of America Most Valuable Player by finishing with nine tackles, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one pass breakup.

Harvey recorded his third 100-yard game of the season on eight catches for 108 yards with two TDs. Behind him was teammate Lenworth Lennon, tallying seven catches for 76 yards.

Doss, was the hot receiver for the Jaguars as he collected 91 yards on 11 catches with one TD, followed by Nzekwe with four catches for 54 yards and one TD. Anthony Balancier, led SU’s defense with 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.